Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has announced he will be running for Governor and he has chosen State Rep. Sannie Overly to run has his Lt. Governor.
May 6, 2014
(Photo: Scott Utterback/The CJ)Buy Photo

Conway, 44, has been positioning himself for a gubernational bid since he lost the 2010 Senate race to Republican Rand Paul. Conway easily won re-election as attorney general in 2011, beating Hopkins County Attorney Todd P'Pool.

Conway angered conservatives this year when he chose not to appeal a U.S. District Court judge's ruling that struck down a provision of state law and the Kentucky Constitution that prohibits the state from recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere.

Conway argued that the state would likely lose the appeal and he couldn't defend the law on moral grounds. Gov. Steve Beshear hired outside counsel to challenge the court's ruling.

In an interview, Conway said he plans to begin raising money and organizing immediately. He said he has no plans to spend any of his own money on the race.

"We start in a very, very strong position," he said, noting he has strong name recognition following three statewide races.

Conway said he is running because he believes he is best suited to lead the state and has the experience to improve the state.

"I think it's a job I know how to do," Conway said. "I think we really have an opportunity to build a better future for the commonwealth of Kentucky."

Heiner's campaign took an early shot at Conway. "Career politicians like Jack Conway are responsible for keeping our commonwealth from realizing its potential," said Joe Burgan, a Heiner adviser.

"We need a governor with real world business experience, not a Frankfort insider," Burgan said.

But Conway spent the day touting his experience in Frankfort, first as an adviser to Gov. Paul Patton and then as attorney general, as well as Overly's experience as an engineer in the state transportation cabinet and then as a legislator.

Conway described his record as attorney general as "second to none" and noted his record of going after child pornographers, Medicaid cheats, prescription drug peddlers and for-profit colleges all while seeing his budget slashed.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway works through a tearful statement that included his decision that he will not appeal a recent ruling to uphold out of state same sex marriages, Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2014 in the Attorney General's Office at the Capitol in Frankfort. By Jonathan Palmer/Special to the Courier-Journal (Photo: Jonathan Palmer)

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway works through a tearful statement that included his decision that he will not appeal a recent ruling to uphold out of state same sex marriages, Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2014 in the Attorney General's Office at the Capitol in Frankfort. By Jonathan Palmer/Special to the Courier-Journal (Photo: Jonathan Palmer)

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway works through a tearful statement that included his decision that he will not appeal a recent ruling to uphold out of state same sex marriages, Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2014 in the Attorney General's Office at the Capitol in Frankfort. By Jonathan Palmer/Special to the Courier-Journal (Photo: Jonathan Palmer)

Ky. Attorney General Jack Conway spoke at a press conference to announce the Badges for Baseball program. The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Louisville Metro Police and Louisville Slugger have teamed up in a pilot program to provide baseball equipment and training to youngsters in the Shawnee area. (By Pat McDonogh, The Courier-Journal, May 5, 2009) (Photo: pat mcdonogh)

U.S. Senate candidate Democrat Jack Conway holds his daughter as he steps up on the stage to give his victory speech Tuesday at the Downtown Marriott. (By David Lee Hartlage, special to The Courier-Journal) May 18, 2010 (Photo: David Lee Hartlage, Special to The Courier-Journa)

Their appearances say much after Attorney General Jack Conway, left, and opponent Rand Paul debated as the two listen to a question from the audience after the two debated at the Marriott in Downtown Louisville Thursday morning. (By Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal) July 8, 2010 (Photo: MATT STONE)

US Senate candidates Rand Paul, back, and Jack Conway, front, ignore each other as they speak in front of the board of directors of the Kentucky Farm Bureau at their headquarters in Louisville.
(By Bill Luster, The Courier-Journal)
July 22, 2010 (Photo: BILL LUSTER)

PADUCAH, KY. -- Jack Conway talks to his crowd of supporters at a rally stop in Paducah, Ky. Saturday afternoon during one of the many campaign stops Conway was making throughout western Ky. 10/30/2010 (By Jim Roshan, Special to the Courier-Journal) (Photo: cj CJ)

President Bill Clinton stumps for U. S. Senate candidate Jack Conway at a rally at the University of Louisville.
(By David R. Lutman, Special to The Courier-Journal)
November 01, 2010 (Photo: David R. Lutman David R. Lutman, Photojournalist)

President Bill Clinton stumps for U. S. Senate candidate Jack Conway at a rally at the University of Louisville.
(By David R. Lutman, Special to The Courier-Journal)
November 01, 2010 (Photo: David R. Lutman David R. Lutman, Photojournalist)

Attorney General Jack Conway announces that he and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control has secured an agreement from AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan to pay over $2 million dollars in damages to the Kentucky Medicaid Program for submitting false reports.
(By Sam Upshaw Jr., The Courier-Journal)
Jan. 26, 2011 (Photo: C-J)

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Conway said his priority as governor would be to create jobs. But he said to do that, he'll focus on education — from preschool to college — because Kentucky needs a better educated workforce.

"Economic development flows right into that," Conway said of education.

He also called for a second round of higher education reform, the first round of which he worked on under Patton. He said the state's colleges and universities are becoming too expensive for many families and that Kentucky needs to look to more distance-learning and other initiatives. "We have to have a top to bottom review of higher education in this state," he said in the interview.

Conway also said voters need the opportunity to consider expanded gaming as a way to increase revenue.

"I think money can be found in a lot of different places," he said.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who is also considering a run for governor, has suggested that Conway and others should wait until after the November election to kick off their campaigns and focus now on electing Alison Lundergan Grimes to the U.S. Senate and re-electing a Democratic majority to the state House.

But Conway said he believes that setting up a strong campaign organization now could actually benefit Grimes and state House candidates. He also promised to help raise money for legislative candidates — saying that would be Overly's priority throughout the summer and fall.

"It would be very difficult to govern if we lost the House," said Conway, who said his political action committee will give to House candidates.

Conway served in Patton's administration but left before the 2002 elections to challenge Republican Anne Northup for U.S. representative from Louisville's 3rd District — losing by about 3 percentage points.

He won his first elected office in 2007 in his first try for attorney general.

State Auditor Adam Edelen, who is also considering a run, stayed out of the fray. Stephenie Hoelscher, his spokewoman said he is currently focused on auditing the Jefferson County Public Schools.

Edelen "will have more to say about 2015 when he wraps up the most significant performance examination ever conducted by the Auditor's office," she said.

Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Gerth.